“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”
Those famous words comprise the opening sentiments of the document that has become known as the “Declaration of Independence”. This document was a declaration ratified by congress on July 4th, 1776 by the 13 founding states of the United States of America. It went on to state 27 grievances those United States had against the King of Britain, which provided justified reasoning for the assertion of their independence from Britain.
Their decision was built on the belief, “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,”. And, “…when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security,”
I thought of this document recently when I was having breakfast with a friend. He shared something I thought was very profound. He told me of his discovery of a deep desire for independence. He realized that he had a natural propensity to live independently from God.
Most of us were raised to be independent. In fact, this is lauded in our culture. You’re successful and strong if you’re not dependent on anyone. Independence is celebrated.
My friend shared how he had bought into this mindset like so many of us, but he had also transferred this into his walk with the Lord. He was trying to live independent from God – only calling on Him when he needed Him.
He looked me in the eye and said,
“I see my tendency to live independent from God, but I want to live in dependence on God.”
Wow – what a profound declaration.
No more to live in my own strength, No more to depend on my own abilities, my own resources, my own experiences. No more living life my way. No more of God’s will my way.
God is inviting us to make a “Declaration of In Dependence” – to live in dependence on Him. To trust Him. To believe what He says is true. To obey Him when we don’t understand. God’s will, God’s way.
“My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.”
This classic hymn is a beautiful Declaration of In Dependence. When we choose to live in dependence on God we are building our life on the rock – anything else is sand. Living independently from God we can gain the whole world, but lose our soul.
Dependence on God means crucifying ourselves and living in Him. Our life is found only in Him – outside of Him there is no life. He is the vine and we are the branch. Our life is inextricably tied to Him.
Are you living independently of God, or in dependence on God? The latter leads to life, the former to death. If you’re not experiencing all the life you thirst for, perhaps you are living independently from God. Dependence on God leads to the life we long for, but it begins with death to ourselves so we can live in Christ.
Make your Declaration of In Dependence. Set your hope on Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Wholly lean on Jesus’ name. Stand on the solid rock of Jesus.
John 15:4, 5
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Matthew 7:26
“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”